PSG moves closer to record-extending 13th French league title with 3-1 win against Marseille

PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain concluded a perfect week on Sunday to move a step closer to a record-extending 13th French league title.

PSG beat second-placed Marseille 3-1 to extend its lead at the top to 19 points with just eight rounds remaining. The victory over its bitter rival in the biggest game of French soccer came five days after PSG ousted Liverpool from the Champions League.

Known as “Le Classique,” the game between PSG and Marseille became popular during the 1990s when Marseille dominated. But the southern club — the only French team to win the Champions League back in 1993 — has fallen well behind since PSG was taken over by Qatari investors in 2011. Sunday's win extended PSG's unbeaten run against Marseille to nine league matches.

Still unbeaten in the league this season, PSG was in control and took the lead in the 17th minute. Ousmane Dembélé ran behind the back of the defense after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia cleverly deflected the ball for Fabian Ruiz, who set up the France forward. Dembélé then skipped past Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli and scored his 21st league goal of the season in an open goal.

Dembélé has been unstoppable since the turn of the year, notching 22 goals in all competitions for PSG so far in 2025, more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues.

Dembélé also scored PSG’s goal when it won 1-0 at Liverpool on Tuesday to reach the Champions League quarterfinals following a penalty shootout.

Marseille stayed calm at the Parc des Princes after conceding, keeping a high pressing that resulted in a few dangerous first-half chances and corners.

But PSG made it 2-0 in the 42nd minute after Ruiz was expertly picked up by Achraf Hakimi and made the most of a lapse in the Marseille defense before crossing the ball for Nuno Mendes, who slotted the ball home.

Marseille pulled one back after the interval when a poor back pass from Nuno Mendes was intercepted by Marseille captain Adrien Rabiot, who cut the ball back for Amine Gouiri to conclude the move.

Dembélé later hit the post before Rulli stopped an effort from Warren Zaïre-Emery with his head. Marseille's hopes of a comeback vanished for good in the 76th minute when Pol Lirola beat his own 'keeper as he tried to clear a dangerous cross from Hakimi.

The match between bottom side Montpellier and fellow struggler Saint-Etienne was abandoned after a fire broke out in a stand due to flares thrown by home fans. Montpellier was trailing 2-0 after Lucas Stassin scored twice for the visitors when the match was stopped by referee Francois Letexier.

Television footage showed black smoke coming from the fire. Players from both teams were sent back to their locker rooms and some Montpellier fans trashed seats in the stands. The fire was extinguished but the game did not start again for security reasons, with Montpellier potentially now facing a heavy penalty.

In a season marking the club’s 50th anniversary, Montpellier sits rock bottom in the French league standings. Saint-Etienne is just one spot above in 17th place.

Substitutes Malick Fofana and Georges Mikautadze played key roles in helping Lyon to rally past Le Havre 4-2.

Mikautadze, who joined Lyon from Metz last year, scored and provided two assists after coming on in the 77th minute. Fofana replaced Ernest Nuamah with 19 minutes remaining with Lyon trailing 2-1 and Mikautadze came on for Rayan Cherki six minutes later.

Fofana leveled the scoring in the 78th minute from Mikautadze's assist with a left-footed angled shot, and the Georgia international then turned finisher after Le Havre defenders failed to clear a corner soon after.

Thiago Almada added more luster to Lyon's win with another goal in added time after another assist from Mikautadze.

Lyon captain Alexandre Lacazette had put Lyon in front from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute. Another penalty from Abdoulaye Toure put Le Havre level before Josue Casimir scored on the stroke of halftime for the visitors.

Lyon moved to fifth place in the standings, just two points behind the last direct Champions League spot. Le Havre remained 16th in the relegation playoff spot.

Brest and Reims drew 0-0, and Strasbourg beat Toulouse 2-1.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

PSG's Fabian Ruiz, right, celebrates with his teammate Warren Zaire-Emery after PSG's Nuno Mendes scored his side's second goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Marseille at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Marseille's Amine Gouiri, right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Marseille at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Marseille's Adrien Rabiot, left, challenges for the ball with PSG's Willian Pacho during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Marseille at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Marseille's Adrien Rabiot, left, challenges for the ball with PSG's Willian Pacho during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Marseille at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

A giant screen shows a write "stop discriminatory chants - the match can be stopped and lost for the club" during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Marseille at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Marseille's Amine Gouiri, right, celebrates with his teammate Derek Cornelius after scoring his side's opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Marseille at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Marseille's Luis Henrique, right, challenges for the ball with PSG's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Marseille at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

PSG's players celebrate after PSG's Nuno Mendes scored his side's second goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Marseille at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Marseille's Leonardo Balerdi, left, challenges for the ball with PSG's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Marseille at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Marseille's Amar Dedic, kicks the ball as PSG's Ousmane Dembele tries to stop him during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Marseille at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Marseille's Amine Gouiri celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Marseille at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

PSG's players celebrate after PSG's Nuno Mendes scored his side's second goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Marseille at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

A dynamic storm that prompted foreboding predictions of dangerous weekend weather spawned tornadoes, dust storms and wildfires that killed at least 39 people and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses.

The system that brought severe weather and flooding to the central and eastern part of the country over the weekend was moving off the East Coast on Monday morning with some showers lingering from the mid-Atlantic into eastern New England, according to Marc Chenard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Here's what to know about the unusually erratic and damaging weather.

Another system is moving out of the Rockies and into the Plains in coming days, Chenard said. The threat of winter weather picks up on Tuesday into Wednesday in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan, with significant snow and wind bringing hazardous conditions across that area. To the south, across portions of the Plains, there will be drier air, bringing fire weather risk.

The massive storm that began Friday earned an unusual “high risk” designation from meteorologists. Still, experts said it’s not unusual to see such weather extremes in March.

“It’s not that uncommon to get impacts across that many states, but this one was even on the stronger side of what we would typically see,” he said.

There was a significant outbreak of tornadoes, with 46 tornadoes on Friday and 41 on Saturday, according to a preliminary count, Chenard said. There were no reports of tornadoes on Sunday, but there were many reports of wind damage, especially from West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.

In Tylertown, Mississippi, tornadoes ripped tall trees in half and wiped out entire neighborhoods. Six people were killed and more than 200 were displaced, Gov. Tate Reeves said.

Hailey Hart and her fiancé Steve Romero hunkered down with their three huskies inside their 1994 Toyota Celica as a twister ripped apart their home Saturday. Romero said he prayed out loud and hugged Hart as the car rolled onto its side, windows shattering, before it landed on its wheels again.

“It was a bad dream come true,” Romero said. The couple escaped with only scratches.

Wayne County, Missouri, resident Dakota Henderson said he and others rescuing trapped neighbors found five bodies scattered in rubble outside what remained of his aunt’s house. Scattered twisters killed at least a dozen people in the state Friday, authorities said.

Coroner Jim Akers of Butler County, Missouri, described the home where one man was killed as “just a debris field.”

“The floor was upside down,” he said. “We were walking on walls.”

Wind-driven wildfires caused extensive damage in Oklahoma and officials in both Oklahoma and Texas warned that parts of both states would again face an increased risk of fire danger this week.

Oklahoma officials said more than 130 fires were reported across Oklahoma on Friday and over 400 homes across the state were damaged.

“Nobody has enough resources to fight fires when the wind is blowing 70 mph,” said Terry Essary, the fire chief of Stillwater, Oklahoma. “It’s an insurmountable task.”

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said on Sunday evening that the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner had confirmed four fatalities related to the fires or high winds across the state.

Dust storms spurred by high winds have been deadly. Eight people died in a Kansas highway pileup involving at least 50 vehicles, according to the state highway patrol. Authorities said three people also were killed in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo, in the Texas Panhandle.

President Donald Trump said the White House was monitoring the storms and would assist state and local officials to help in the recovery. He said National Guard troops were deployed to Arkansas, where officials confirmed three deaths.

"Please join Melania and me in praying for everyone impacted by these terrible storms!” Trump posted on his social media network on Sunday.

At least three people, including an 82-year-old woman, were killed in central Alabama when multiple tornadoes swept across the state.

In Troy, Alabama, parks officials said the recreation center where many residents had taken refuge had to be closed due to damage from overnight storms. No one was injured.

“We are thankful the Lord provided protection over our community, and over 200 guests at the Recreation Center storm shelter on Saturday night,” the parks department said in a statement.

Friends and family members search for belongings in the damage after a tornado passed through the area, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Plantersville, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Tony Robertson drives a damaged pickup truck out of the way after a tornado passed through the area Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Plantersville, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Friends and family members remove trees from a house after a tornado passed through the area Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Plantersville, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Friends and family carry off a safe from the damaged building after a tornado passed through the area, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Plantersville, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Friends and family members take a break as they search for belongings in the damage after a tornado passed through the area, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Plantersville, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Friends and family members search for belongings in the damage after a tornado passed through the area, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Plantersville, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Friends and family members search for belongings in the damage after a tornado passed through the area, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Plantersville, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

The antique teapot clock of Donna Blansett, is one of the few items that family and friends recovered intact from their mobile home that was destroyed when a series of storms passed Tylertown, Miss., Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Patricia Blansett inspects a family portrait print, one of the few items that family and friends recovered intact, Sunday, March 16, 2025 from her relative's mobile home that was destroyed when a series of storms passed Tylertown, Miss., on Saturday. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Tasha May, right, and her husband Tommy May, recover clothing from a cabinet in the tornado destroyed home of her grandparents, Sunday, March 16, 2025, Tylertown, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

A toy panda bear lies amid the rubble of a mobile home that was destroyed from tornado in Tylertown, Miss., on Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Steve Romero's vehicle's windshield displays the damage from Saturday's tornado, in Tylertown, Miss., on Sunday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Cody McCoy of Biloxi, Miss., recalls the escape he and his family undertook, when Saturday's tornado flipped their bunkhouse camper in Tylertown, Miss., on Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

The interior of the new bunkhouse camper of Cody McCoy of Biloxi, Miss., shows the damage from Saturday's tornado in Tylertown, Miss., on Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Hailey Hart, 21, right, hugs a friend, Sage Falgoust, 16, after recalling how she, her fiancee and their dogs rode out Saturday's tornado in their 1994 Toyota automobile, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Tylertown, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Cody McCoy of Biloxi, Miss., recalls the escape he and his family undertook, when an tornado flipped their bunkhouse camper Saturday in Tylertown, Miss., on Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Steve Romero's vehicle's windshield displays the damage from Saturday's tornado, in Tylertown, Miss., on Sunday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

A cat cries out while sitting before a destroyed cabin from a tornado at Paradise Ranch RV Resort in Tylertown, Miss., Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Donna Blansett, holds her dog LuLu, and recalls how she and husband Bobby Blansett, managed to escape Saturday from their tornado destroyed mobile home after a series of storms passed Tylertown, Miss., on Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Steve Romero, 23, center, hugs his wife, Hailey Hart, right, and their friend Jessica Soileau, left, after recalling how he, his fiancee and their three dogs rode out Saturday's tornado in their small 1994 Toyota in Tylertown, Miss., on Sunday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Steve Romero, left, wipes away the tears of his fiancee, Hailey Hart, right, Sunday, March 16, 2024, after recalling how the couple and their three dogs rode out an apparent tornado in their small automobile, Saturday afternoon, in Tylertown, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Tommy May, tosses a broken mirror from a tornado destroyed home of relatives, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Tylertown, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

A recovery volunteer climbs a tree to recover a torn American flag from Saturday's tornado that passed through Tylertown, Miss., and other communities on Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Steve Romero, comforts his fiancee, Hailey Hart, right, Sunday, March 16, 2024, after recalling how the couple and their three dogs rode out an apparent tornado in their small automobile, Saturday afternoon, in Tylertown, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Family friend Trey Bridges, 16, climbs a mountain of tornado debris to help the Blansett family recover items not destroyed by Saturday's tornado, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Tylertown, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

A grove of pine trees were destroyed by Saturday's tornado in Tylertown, Miss., shown on Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)